“Does your child love drama games but freeze when it comes to performing?”
It’s something I hear from parents time and again. Their child is imaginative, full of ideas, and loves role-play at home, but the minute they’re asked to stand in front of an audience — even if it’s just their classmates — they clam up. Sometimes they panic. Sometimes the tears start. And sometimes, sadly, they just give up on something they once loved.
I understand that fear more than you might think.
🌟 My Own Experience with Stage Fright and Improvisation
When I was younger, performing on stage was second nature to me. It was my passion, my escape, my joy. But improvisation? That was a whole different story.
The very mention of it would send me into a spin. My hands would tremble, my stomach would knot, and I’d do anything I could to avoid being picked. Improvisation felt like being pushed onto a tightrope without a safety net, with everyone watching, waiting for me to fall. The fear of “getting it wrong” was overwhelming.
Back then, improvisation looked like a challenge only the confident kids could manage. It was about being funny on the spot or clever enough to impress. If you couldn’t do that, you felt like you didn’t belong. And that fear — that fear of judgment — can be absolutely paralysing.
🎭 Discovering the Magic of Improvisation
Over time, my view of improvisation completely changed. The breakthrough came not from “being better” at it, but from being in a space that felt safe. A space where mistakes weren’t laughed at but celebrated. Where “silly” ideas sparked the best stories. Where the aim wasn’t to impress but simply to play.
And suddenly, improvisation became magical.
It stopped being about panic and perfection. It became about freedom — the freedom to try, to explore, and to be unapologetically creative.
That realisation shaped the way I now run Zozimus Drama.
🌈 Why Zozimus Drama Is Different
I’ve seen too many children weighed down by stage fright. Some adore acting but are terrified by the idea of standing on a stage. Others are bold at home but go quiet in a group. Some are bubbling with ideas but worry they’ll be laughed at if they share them.
At Zozimus Drama, we take that weight off their shoulders.
There’s no “you must perform.” There’s no pressure to impress an audience. Our classes focus on what drama is really about: imaginative play, creativity, and confidence-building.
Here’s what that looks like:
- Imaginative play – A scarf becomes a dragon’s tail. A circle of chairs turns into a pirate ship. The classroom transforms into anywhere we want it to be.
- Confidence without pressure – Children discover that mistakes are part of the fun. There’s no “wrong” way to play.
- Collaboration and teamwork – Stories are built together, so every child has a role to play.
- Improvisation as joy, not fear – Instead of dreading it, children laugh, experiment, and surprise themselves.
I often join in the games too — complete with dodgy accents and ridiculous characters — because I want children to see that drama isn’t about “getting it right.” It’s about enjoying the process and discovering what happens next.
💡 Real Moments from Our Classes
One little girl I worked with refused to speak for the first two weeks. She joined in games silently, watching carefully, but clammed up at the idea of performing. We let her be part of the group however she wanted — as a buzzing bee, as a stone in the forest, as one of the villagers in a story. Slowly, she began to add sound effects. Then one day, she gave a whole line of dialogue as her character. The group cheered, and her face lit up. That moment only happened because she was allowed to grow without pressure.
Another child, full of energy but easily embarrassed, used to giggle nervously whenever he was asked to show work. But in improvisation games, he thrived — inventing silly characters, sharing bold ideas, and making the group laugh with him, not at him. Improvisation became his safe space to take risks.
These are the transformations that happen when children are free to play, not perform.
✨ The Zozimus Drama Ethos
Our ethos is simple:
Drama isn’t about perfection.
It isn’t about the spotlight.
It isn’t about impressing anyone.
It’s about freedom, creativity, and connection.
Through non-performance, improvisation, and imaginative play, we give children the chance to explore who they are, discover their voice, and feel proud of themselves — not because they delivered a perfect line on stage, but because they were brave enough to join in, to try, and to imagine.
That’s where confidence really begins.
👩👩👧 A Note for Parents
If your child is:
- shy or anxious,
- a perfectionist who worries about “getting it wrong,”
- or simply happier joining in than being centre stage…
…then non-performance drama might be exactly what they need.
Our sessions aren’t about creating the next West End star. They’re about helping children find their voice, build resilience, and learn to work with others — all through the safety of play. The confidence they gain in these classes doesn’t stay in the drama room; it spills into school, friendships, and everyday life.
And who knows? Some of them may discover a love for performing later on. But first, they need the freedom to enjoy drama without fear. That’s what Zozimus Drama gives them.
👉 Want your child to discover the joy of drama without the pressure to perform? Visit our classes page or follow us on Facebook to see how Zozimus Drama builds confidence through play.